Premier League clubs search for sponsors after unlicensed gambling ban

The UK Gambling Commission issued a stark warning to Premier League clubs last week after TGP Europe, the firm behind over 30 UK gambling brands, abruptly exited the British gambling market.

The major operator’s departure follows its £3.3 million fine for a serious breach of anti-money laundering (AML) measures, among other offenses.

TGP Europe, a gambling white-label provider for popular sites including Fun88, SBOTOP, and BJ88, was found to have ignored several previous warnings by the UK regulator. The firm also faced allegations of failing to verify partner funding sources as well as repeatedly breaching its own compliance standards.

However, rather than taking the necessary steps to appease the Gambling Commission’s concerns, TGP Europe simply chose to ditch its UK licenses. The fallout of which has now left Newcastle United, Fulham, Bournemouth, Wolves, and newly promoted Burnley all unwittingly entangled in sponsorship agreements with their now-unlicensed betting brands.

Newcastle, for instance, still lists Fun88 and Sportsbet.io as its partners despite Fun88 stepping down as the official shirt sponsor two seasons ago. Fulham are currently sponsored by SBOTOP, which operates under the TGP umbrella, but is now also no longer able to operate legally in the UK.

As a result of TGP Europe’s exit, the Gambling Commission has demanded that all five clubs prove that UK fans cannot access the firm’s now illegal sites through its sponsorship links. The UK regulator has also stated that geo-blocking measures alone won’t suffice, particularly due to the ease of available workarounds, such as fans still entering sites while using VPN providers.

Failure to comply with the Gambling Commission directives could land club executives in hot water if they continue to promote the firm’s unlicensed gambling services. The consequence of which could lead to heavy fines and possibly even jail time.

However, TGP Europe isn’t the first gambling operator to leave the GB market after the Commission forced Stake.com – Everton’s main shirt sponsor at the time – out earlier this year.

With over half of the Premier League teams being sponsored by gambling firms this season, any further regulatory crackdowns may see teams seeking sponsors from a different industry.